Secretary of State

An arrest for a felony offense in Illinois has consequences beyond sentencing in court. In addition to the possibility of a prison sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections, a defendant may lose his driver’s license. The Secretary of State in Illinois has authority to suspend, cancel, and even revoke a person’s driving privileges for […]

Insurance laws in Illinois are tough. Every driver on the road must have a liability insurance with coverage of at least $20,000.00 per person for bodily injury as a result of an accident. Failure to carry insurance has serious consequences. Driving without insurance is a petty offense in Illinois. The statute citation is 625 ILCS […]

The law in Illinois says that the Secretary of State has authority to suspend a person’s driver’s license upon a report of a conviction for certain offenses. The information is reported to the Secretary of State by the Circuit Clerk for each county courthouse. The clerk’s computer system is linked with the Secretary of State […]

Many people believe they can pay a speeding ticket and the matter is taken care of. However, a speeding ticket can result in driver’s license suspension. Under certain circumstances, a speeding ticket can cause a revoked license. In almost every case of a suspension or revocation, it sneaks up on the driver. For example, the […]

Street racing is a criminal offense in the Illinois Vehicle Code, and the penalties can be very serious. The law is 625 ILCS 5/11-506, and it provides that it is illegal to engage in street racing on any highway in the state of Illinois. A highway is generally any public road. It is also against […]

A ticket for failing to stop for a school bus can be expensive and suspend your driver’s license. The law is written in the Illinois Vehicle Code at 625 ILCS 5/11-1414. The law provides that all vehicles must come to a complete stop for a school bus that is loading or unloading child passengers. The […]

A conviction for violating 625 ILCS 5/11-501, the Illinois DUI law, will result in a mandatory driver’s license revocation by the Secretary of State. The law provides the following: Sec. 6-205. Mandatory revocation of license or permit; Hardship cases. (a) Except as provided in this Section, the Secretary of State shall immediately revoke the license, […]

When a person is arrested for DUI, the police officer will provide him with a Uniform Traffic Ticket. The ticket is written by hand and specifies the section(s) of the DUI statute the defendant is accused of violating. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is set forth in 625 ILCS 5/11-501. There may […]

Defendants who are charged with driving under the influence under Section 11-501 of the Illinois Vehicle Code will almost always benefit from a reduction of the charge from DUI to reckless driving under Section 11-503. Both offenses are Class A misdemeanors for which the sentence can be up to one year in jail and a […]

Transportation of an open container of alcohol in Illinois is a petty offense punishable by fine only. Most petty offenses in the Illinois Vehicle Code have a maximum fine of $1,000. The offense is governed by 625 ILCS 5/11-502. That statute provides that it is unlawful to transport, carry, or possess any alcoholic liquor within […]